THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Any hopes that North Korea may soften its rhetoric under Kim Jong-un were dashed overnight, as Pyongyang released an uncompromising message to foreign powers.
“We declare solemnly and confidently that the foolish politicians around the world, including the puppet group in South Korea, should not expect any change from us,'' the country’s powerful National Defence Commission, or NDC, announced in a statement read out in strident tones by a state television anchor on Friday.
North Korea propaganda routinely refers to South Korea as a “puppet” of the United States.
The statement, the first on North-South relations since Kim Jong-il's memorial ceremonies ended, added that the North would never deal with the “traitor group” of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.
The conservative Lee ditched his two predecessors’ decade-long “Sunshine Policy” of pro-North engagement, and halted all tours to the joint North-South tourism resort at Mount Kumgang – a significant cash cow for Pyongyang – after the shooting of a South Korean tourist there by a North Korean soldier in 2008.
And following 2010’s North Korean naval and military attacks that killed 50 South Koreans, Lee halted most humanitarian aid and all high-level contact with the North.
The NDC also criticised the Lee administration for not sending a national delegation to Kim Jong-il's funeral. » | Andrew Salmon in Seoul | Friday, December 30, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: North Korea warns the world: no change in policy under Kim Jong-un – Defence commission sends uncompromising message to 'foolish politicians including the puppet forces in South Korea' ¶ Hopes for a new era of engagement with North Korea have faded after the country's powerful defence commission warned the world not to expect a change in policy under its new leader, Kim Jong-un. ¶ The announcement broadcast by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Friday, effectively dashed hopes that Kim might be ready to engage with South Korea and the wider international community. ¶ In comments attributed to the national defence commission, the agency said "foolish politicians" should expect no change in policy and threatened South Korea's conservative president, Lee Myung-bak, with a "sea of fire". » | Justin McCurry in Osaka | Friday, December 30, 2011
